Thursday, November 11, 2010

Congratulations Jun & David! This beautiful couple were married last Saturday, November 6th in Los Angeles. I met Jun while at UCLA's Library School in 2003, and we hit it off immediately and have had a great time the last 7 years.

The wedding ceremony was held at the Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Downtown Los Angeles' Little Tokyo. It was a very touching ceremony conducted in both English and Japanese. The priest had asked Jun & David to write letters to each other, and he read them during the ceremony. They didn't know he would do that when they wrote the letters, so they were honest and funny. After dating for 12 years, everyone was so excited to witness the ceremony. Jun wore her mother's beautiful wedding kimono!

I'm one of those people who loves to receive and give handmade gifts. So my gift to Jun & David was the dessert bar at the reception.

(Jun & David, don't read this part) But what was I thinking? I'm a freaking librarian with a small refrig and basic oven. I've only make food for my library, and this was a 125 person reception. Thus, I got 5 hours of sleep in two days. But it was so worth it! The wedding and reception was so much fun!

...and we end with The Salty. After going to a few cupcake eating events with JustJenn, I feel having something salty with your sweets is very important so I put together an assortment of my favorite salty snacks.

I tried to make a mini display cake for the Daruma dolls turned bride & groom figurines. Daruma dolls are sold with both eyes blank. You fill-in one eye in when you set a goal/wish, and fill-in the other when the goal is attained. During the reception, Jun & David filled in the second eye.

Oh, you poor mini cake. I made it at 4 am on the day of the wedding (yes, I was a bit behind schedule. And before all you kids who finished a week's worth of homework in one night tell me I could have frozen items prior to the wedding, that just didn't happen.) It got frosted by Helen (Cook's Illustrated Basic Buttercream) and we were off to set up at the reception hall.

When we arrived, Helen lifts up the cake carrier and notices that the cake completely shifted and is smashed against the side of the box. We call Alison, Helen's awesome daughter, and leave this voicemail: "Alison. Go to the grocery store. Buy a boatload of white canned frosting. Stat. Please. Thank you." Then, I carry in the sad cake carrier and I proceed to Drop. It. On. Its. Head. Yes, we dropped the darn thing twice! Luckily, the Daruma figurines were not on the cake. Finally, we shellac the cake with canned frosting, but you can see some of the bad bits coming through. Luckily, no one was planning on cutting or eating this cake. On their first anniversary, I'll bring over cream puffs and cupcakes to celebrate. No one wants to get near this twice bruised cake.

Make anything mini and it is so darn cute. These cupcakes are topped with a decorative heart. Kawaii!

This was the only photo I took of the dessert bar! See the blur? This is real time action! As we set out the dessert bar, guests were coming up and starting to fill up their plates. I had no time to take photos so I am grateful to Jun's co-worker Linda for snapping photos! Alison and Helen are behind the bar getting ready to spend the next few hours refilling desserts. We refilled, refilled and refilled over 1000 items!

Thanks Jun and David for accepting my gift of desserts. (Seriously, what were you thinking entrusting me with such an important part of your day?!) Thank you for including me in your special day, and I send you a dessert bar full of good wishes for many more happy years together!
- mary the food librarian

Mary, this is incredible - I can't believe the number of beautiful treats you made for your friends, all while working, Bundt-ing, etc...your friends are very lucky to have you, and congratulations to them on their marriage.

Wow, what an array of tasty treats. As daunting as making a tiered wedding cake can be, I think you ended up putting more work into your vast selection of goodies. So sorry to hear you had so many issues with the mini wedding cake. Everything looked amazing in the end.

so cool! this kind of reminds me of the cookie table tradition for weddings in this area of the country. In addition to the cake, family and friends prepare hundreds of cookies for the reception. I just worked on one for my friend's wedding a few weeks ago and documented it (of course) here: http://kdiddy.org/2010/09/27/c-is-for-cookie-table/

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! This was the most wonderful wedding gift. As someone else mentioned, I sure am a lucky person to have such a caring giving friend. 17 dessert choices. Pure Mary Madness! When I first asked you to do the dessert, I believe what I asked was exactly that- the "dessert," singular, NOT plural. Never ever in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up with a dessert bar. This was more impressive than any dessert buffet I have ever seen in my entire life. People will not stop talking about it. I have already had a friend ask if you are available to do another wedding. Perhaps that is a horrifying proposition at this point, but Mary, what you did was beyond professional. I really felt and tasted the love. I really can't thank you enough!!!

Wow, Mary! I would think this was your best feat/post ever even if I didn't know Jun & David... but getting to see the pics from their wedding is even more of a treat. :) Gorgeous bride, happy groom, beautiful dessert table- what a celebration. Congrats!

Just amazing. I am in awe. This looks fantastic! I can't believe you did 17 desserts. Your friend is very lucky, indeed. I agree with Jessica's comments...30 days of bundts and this dessert bar all at once?!! You are my hero, too!

Mary, what a beautiful job you did, and what a gracious gift to your good friends! (Do you love the cheesecake bite recipe? I promised cheesecake bites for an event next weekend and was thinking about trying either a lemon or a chocolate recipe...)

Oh mary, I totally laughed at your descriptions of events. You are so funny. More importantly you are impressive. Every time I agree to do a project for someone I think I've lost my mind. It truly takes many people to pull projects like yours together. You did a beautiful job! I'm certain they loved it as well as all the guests. Rest now he he and don't do it again LOL hehe (that is always what I mutter to myself)I'm kidding that was such a loving gift. Congratulations.AmyRuth

Wow what an undertaking but everything looks divine and you kept it so neat and professional looking. It must have felt so good to see it all displayed and people enjoying it. You're amazing. I would want to eat one of everything.

Hey--you did great! I'm a library tech on the East coast & baker, too. Every time I do a wedding cake I swear "never again!" But there's always another one... I love the idea of a dessert bar & small wedding cake. Maybe I'll keep that in mind for next time. :-)

#31 Indrani, I don't have permission to print the cream puff recipe; they came from my friend's culinary school. Also, the entire recipe is measured by weight so you would need a scale. Also, the instructions are very basic, as it was accompanied by a live lecture. There are many recipes, with good instructions, available in cookbooks and cooking sites. I suggest Martha Stewart's recipe. Thanks, Mary the Food Librarian

I can't get over how beautiful the bride was and how great everything you made looked! Kawaii indeed!! Congratulations to your friends, and to you for such a feast!! This might be the coolest wedding ever.

I am so so impressed. What a lucky couple to have help them out on their day. WOW!!!! Thanks for the links to all your good stuff. The nutella cookies are going to have to be made soon. Thanks again, love your post and your blog... :)

Great post! I’m looking to make some changes in my own eating habits and learning to cook, so I appreciate your insight a lot! Thank you. I recently stumbled upon this blog like I did yours and I thought your readers may appreciate it: http://burisonthecouch.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/food-for-thought/

I’ve started to look for blog help more regularly and I think I’m going to add your blog to my list as well. Thanks for the post!

Thank you for posting these pics. Your friend Jun looks stunning in her wedding kimono. How special that it is her mother's, too. Your dessert bar is PHE-NO-ME-NAL. You can tell you poured your heart and soul into their wedding dessert bar and the results are gorgeous. You are amazing, Mary!!! What a wonderful friend you are. I'm thankful and blessed to know you. Miss you tons. Your fan, Racheal P.S. I'm going to be in LA December 23 to January 3. CAN WE PLEASE GET TOGETHER WHILE I'M IN TOWN THIS TIME??? I hope this is enough notice so that we can plan for some time together.

P.S. This may be tacky of me for asking but how much did all of the ingredients cost for the entire dessert bar? Including supplies. Did you keep track of the hours that you spent all week baking, too? Love you! Rach

Seriously Mary, I would hire you in a heartbeat to cater my wedding dessert buffet, and with half (even a 1/3) of the options you presented. I mean, who wants just a cake from King's Bakery when you can wallow in the genius of the Food Librarian? -Patricia (aka cousin Stan and David's former dogwalker)